[TheForge] Ireland & iron - suggestions?

Sun Apr 18 19:06:00 2004

If you get down south to the ancient city of Cork, there is a lot of 
Victorian ironwork around. The railings and gates around the National Art 
Gallery (i think it is a national) near Paul Street have been recently 
restored and are well worth the look. The art inside definitely is if you 
have Irish roots. Just walking around the city in the older neighborhoods 
looking at the gates is an eye full. The hillside is the oldest. The Old 
Anglican church is worth the walk as was designed by the famous Cristopher 
Wren. Don't remember much of the ironwork but the architecture blew me 
away. The old churches in Ireland didn't have the funds I figure for a good 
blacksmith. Doesn't  seem to me a lot real blacksmithing happening nowadays 
in Ireland.   Most of what is being done on is rich estates of Wiklow 
county near Dublin it appears.Lot of high tech substitutes. The government 
sponsored blacksmithing school in Mayo was shut down to lack of applicants 
i was informed. Nothing stands out in my mind in Dublin except one of the 
National Museums. Three floors of old metal work..well worth the visit. If 
you get to up to Sligo, a large bar and grill there has beautiful inside 
railings and immense chandeliers. I was in Ireland for 5 months last winter 
and traveled most of the country keeping an eye out for good work and the 
thing that sticks out in my mind were the iron sign brackets hanging out 
into the streets of old towns. Some real beauties. Seems like marketing in 
those days was still capturing the eye of the consumer.  Take a sketch book 
as a camera seems to miss lot of the old detail work.
Mike

At 01:30 PM 4/16/04, you wrote:
>Greetings all --
>My wife and I are going to spend two weeks in Ireland soon. If she tires 
>of bronze, beads, and stone-age forts, I thought it might be interesting 
>to see some ironwork.  If anyone has any suggestions, please send share them.
>Steve _______________________________________________
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